Arrange separate prison van for female, says HC

In response to a writ petition a high court bench has ordered the authority to arrange separate prison vans for female inmates. High Court has also issued a show cause notice asking why a permanent rule will not be issued.

Human rights organizations have been talking on this issue for years and recently a Bangla Daily reported on this issue again. Prisoners are carried from one jail to another or to court on prison van. But police carry male and female prisoners on same van and there is no partition. Sexual harassments of female prisoners by male prisoners are common and duty police keep blind eye on it.

Male prisoners not only use vulgar comments, they touch female prisoners and rape is not uncommon. A human rights activist said, there is instance that female prisoners became pregnant following the abuse on prison van.

The home minister has said his ministry will arrange separate prison vans now.